Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton pleaded guilty Monday to assaulting former Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo during a training session.
Dabo was at Manchester Minshull Crown Court to hear Barton change his plea shortly before the trial was to begin and admit to one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May 2007.
The 25-year-old Barton, who will be sentenced Tuesday morning, is currently serving a six-month term for assaulting two people outside a McDonald's restaurant in central Liverpool last December.
Dabo described himself as looking like the "Elephant Man" after being hospitalized with heavy swelling of his eyes and face after the incident.
Barton, who has played once for England, was suspended by City and never played for the club again, joining Newcastle in June 2007 for 5.8 million pounds (US$11.8 million; euro8.6 million).
Dabo, a French defender, returned to Lazio from City in January.
